Adelaide United FC coach Aurelio Vidmar has been appointed to the position of Head Coach of the Men’s Olympic Team for the 2012 Olympic Games and Assistant Coach of the Qantas Socceroos.
At the official Press Conference this morning, AUFC CEO Sam Ciccarello paid tribute to Vidmar for his appointment to the National team, and stated that the cub has already commenced the search for a new coach.
“We have commenced our search for a new coach, it will be a world wide search and we expecting significant interest in the position. In the interim Phil Stubbins has been appointed as head coach, and he will take over the reins upon his return from holidays,” Ciccarello said.
As one of the most promising young coaches in Australia, Vidmar will replace Graham Arnold who will take up the role of Head Coach of the Central Coast Mariners after the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
FFA CEO Ben Buckley said Vidmar’s appointment showed FFA was serious about developing Australian coaches for important national positions.
“Aurelio is a great young coach and a position like this is a fantastic stepping stone for him and it will give him the opportunity to aspire to the head coaching role down the track,” Buckley said.
“He has shown with his excellent work with Adelaide United that he can manage a team on the international stage and get results.”
FFA Technical Director Han Berger said Vidmar’s appointment was part of a strategic succession plan to develop top flight coaches from Australia.
“Aurelio is one of our most promising young coaches and he already has valuable experience coaching in Australia and Asia,” Berger said.
“I look forward to working even more closely with him and watching him develop in his exciting new role.”
Vidmar is currently the Head Coach of Adelaide United Head Coach and has taken his team beyond the group stages of two AFC Asian Champions League competitions and to the Hyundai A-League finals.
Prior to his appointment at Adelaide, he worked with Arnold as assistant coach to the 2008 Olympic Team and was Hyundai A-League Coach of the Year in 2008/09.
Vidmar said it was a very difficult decision to make, because it (Adelaide United) is a fantastic place to work, with fantastic people at the club.
“It took me about a week to weigh up the pros and cons, but I thought the time was right, as the opportunity may never come again. I made the decision last Wednesday morning. I will be leaving on Tuesday for South Africa, Han Berger and Kelly Cross have put together some activities for me to fulfil while I’m there,” Vidmar said.
Aurelio is a former Socceroo of note, representing his country 44 times since 1991 scoring 17 goals and captaining the Socceroos seven times.
He played overseas in Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain and Japan, as well as playing for many years for Adelaide City in the NSL.
He also was a member of the Olyroos at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Aurelio Vidmar
Date of Birth: 03-Feb-1967, Adelaide, South Australia
Position: Midfielder
Socceroo Honours
A-Internationals 44 (17 goals)
All Internationals 53 (18 goals) 1988–2001
1988 Dinamo Zagreb, Dinamo Zagreb
1990 Torpedo Moscow
1991 CZECHOSLOVAKIA, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, NEW ZEALAND, NEW ZEALAND (1 gl), ENGLAND, USSR B, USA B (1 gl), South Korea B, SOUTH KOREA
1992 USA, ARGENTINA
1993 NEW ZEALAND (1 gl), CANADA, CANADA, ARGENTINA (1 gl), ARGENTINA
1994 JAPAN (1 gl), FRANCE, SOUTH AFRICA (1 gl), SOUTH AFRICA
1995 GHANA
1996 SCOTLAND
1997 MAKEDONIA (1 gl), HUNGARY (2 gls), SOLOMON ISLANDS, TAHITI (1 gl), SOLOMON ISLANDS (1 gl), TAHITI, NEW ZEALAND (1 gl), NEW ZEALAND, TUNISIA (1 gl), IRAN, IRAN (1 gl), MEXICO, BRAZIL, SAUDI ARABIA, URUGUAY, BRAZIL
1999 World Stars, Manchester United, Manchester United
2000 PARAGUAY, PARAGUAY, SOLOMON ISLANDS, VANUATU, NEW ZEALAND
2001 COLOMBIA, AMERICAN SAMOA (2 gls), SAMOA (2 gls), KOREA REPUBLIC
Australian Underage Representative Honours
U/23 – 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games (Overage Player)
Playing Record
1985 – Adelaide City (NSL) 10 app. 2 gls.
1986 – Adelaide City (NSL) 26 app. 2 gls.
1987 – Adelaide City (NSL) 23 app. 2 gls.
1988 – Adelaide City (NSL) 22 app. 5 gls.
1989 – Adelaide City (NSL) 25 app. 5 gls.
1989/90 – Adelaide City (NSL) 23 app. 9 gls.
1990/1 – Adelaide City (NSL) 28 app. 4 gls.
1991/2 – KV Kortijik (Belgium 1) 32 app. 10 gls.
1992/3 – KSV Waregem (Belgium 1) 32 app. 19 gls.
1993/4 – KSV Waregem (Belgium 1) 25 app. 7 gls.
1994/5 – Standard Liège (Belgium 1) 32 app. 22 gls.
1995/6 – Feyenoord (Netherlands 1) 15 app. 2 gls.
1995/6 – FC Sion (Switzerland 1) 13 app. 7 gls.
1996/7 – CD Tenerife (Spain 1) 25 app. 1 gls.
1997/8 – CD Tenerife (Spain 1) 0 app.
1998 – Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan 1) 15 app. 4gls.
1999 – Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan 1) 9 app. 2 gls.
1999/00 – Adelaide City (NSL) 34 app. 8 gls.
2000/1 – Adelaide City (NSL) 21 app. 4 gls.
2001/2 – Adelaide City (NSL) 23 app. 3 gls.
2002/3 – Adelaide City (NSL) 32 app. 6 gls.
2003/4 – Adelaide United (NSL) 27 app. 2 gls.
Coaching Honours
2005/6 – Adelaide United (Hyundai A-League) Assistant Coach
2006/7 – Adelaide United (Hyundai A-League) Assistant Coach
2007/8 – Adelaide United (Hyundai A-League) W6-D8-L7 (21)
2008/9 – Adelaide United (Hyundai A-League) W11-D5-L5 (21) – Hyundai A-League Coach of the Year (2008/09)
2009/10 – Adelaide United (Hyundai A-League) W7-D8-L12 (27)
AFC Champions League
2007 – Group Stage
2008 – Runners-Up
2010 – Round of 16
Other Honours
1994-1995: Belgian League Top Scorer: (Standard Liège – 22 goals)
1994: Oceania Footballer of the Year:
2008: Football Federation of South Australia Hall of Champions:
2008: Football Federation Australia Hall of Fame
2008: Nominated for AFC Coach of the Year Award
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